30 cups of tea

I'm showered now for the first time in 4 days and enjoying a cup of coffee at my friends, Bahadir and Alev's, house in Ankara. What a trip so far!

First off, many many praises. Every leg has been smooth with little answers to prayer such as my bags arriving, customs ignoring me in Istanbul (I was nervous about 13 cameras getting attention), and sitting by myself on the buses (i.e. no men to deal with). My Turkish, though very stilted, has been adequate and I had some great conversations with Huri. I was able to understand her and only her among all the other women we met in the village!

She is an amazing woman, continuing to walk in her faith, share it in every conversation, and bring people's needs right to prayer despite being the lone Christian. A huge Mosque overshadows their modest home (and an incredibly loud wake up call at 5:30am!)which is also surrounded by sheep manure as their front yard serves as the sheep pen as well. Despite waking up to two cockroaches under my pillow and having flies drown in my tea at breakfast and having only an outhouse and water from an outdoor pump, I've had a great time experiencing another side of Turkey.

Actually, poverty is relative and even they are not hurting. Sufficient food, clean water, healthcare or education are not needs here. They are not among those living on $1 or even $2 a day. It's been a challenge to reconsider community development in light of relative poverty. Many things to think about!

Tonight I board a plane for Antalya to start the photography clinic. This evening with friends is a good mental transition for me.

More to come...

Things I want to remember to write about: hospitality, community, faith...